PCN Clinical Pharmacist - Maternity Cover Liverpool

Maternity cover until August 2027 - full time, part-time post(s) available. Locum applications also considered.

iGPc Primary Care Network has an exciting opportunity for a Clinical Pharmacist to work across GP practices in their Primary Care Network (PCN). We recognise the value that pharmacists can bring to our practices and our patients and we look forward to growing our PCN pharmacy team. Our aim is to provide exemplary patient care; finding innovative solutions in general practice to deliver the best care we can to our patients.

We are seeking enthusiastic and forward-thinking pharmacists to join our like-minded PCN. You will become part of a group of PCN Clinical Pharmacists working under the supervision of the Lead PCN Clinical Pharmacist and GP Clinical Supervisor. This is an evolving job role with huge scope for development as we expand our PCN team further over the years.

Primary care experience would be an advantage, however, is not essential. Flexibility, enthusiasm and good clinical knowledge are essential. Successful candidates will be supported in terms of clinical learning and professional development through access to a GP clinical supervisor, other clinical pharmacists and enrolment onto a formal education pathway delivered through CPPE (if not already completed).

Main duties of the job

• Work part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role
• Conduct structured medication reviews to proactively manage patients with complex polypharmacy
• Provide clinical medicines expertise to both patients and general practice team
• Improve prescribing practices across the Primary Care Network
• Improve service and quality through mechanisms such as audits and PDSA cycles
• Interface with community and hospital colleagues to help resolve medication-related issues

About us

iGPc PCN is a forward-thinking Primary Care Network compromising of Belle Vale, Calvary, Oak Vale, Rock Court, Rocky Lane, West Derby, Old Swan and Dovecot medical practices in Liverpool. Our current PCN Pharmacy Team consists of 8 pharmacists and 2 pharmacy technicians.

Job responsibilities

• Patient facing Medication Review Clinics
• Conduct face-to-face, telephone, domiciliary and virtual (where appropriate) clinical medication reviews to proactively manage patients with chronic conditions
• Proactively identify and manage patients with complex polypharmacy
• Review the on-going need for each medication, ensuring monitoring needs are performed and an opportunity to support patients achieve better health outcomes
• Reduce inappropriate poly-pharmacy and wasteful prescribing
• Make appropriate recommendations
• Medicines Information: Answer relevant medicine-related enquiries from GPs, other practice staff, other healthcare teams (e.g. community pharmacy) and patients with queries about medicines.
• Suggest and recommend solutions using clinical knowledge and trusted pharmaceutical sources
• Medicine Reconciliation: Reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes, including identifying and rectifying unexplained changes and working with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need post-discharge.
• To review medications for newly registered patients
• Medicines Management: Produce and implement a practice repeat prescribing policy helping to improve safety and efficiency
• Develop and implement ways to improve monitoring of high-risk medication such as anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, and DMARDs, etc.
• Monitor practice prescribing against local guidelines and formulary recommendations
• Develop prescribing guidelines for use within the Network
• Help increase uptake of Electronic Repeat Dispensing
• Medicine safety: Implement changes to medication that result from CAS/MHRA alerts, product withdrawal, and other local/national guidance
• Develop and implement systems to identify cohorts of patients most likely to be at risk of unplanned admissions and readmissions from medication
• Collaborating Working Relationships: Work collaboratively with the PCN team
• Develop relationships and work closely with community, hospital and MMT pharmacy colleagues and the wider health system
• Liaise with other stakeholders for the collective benefit of patients
• Attend relevant network and practice meetings

Education and Training

• To analyse latest prescribing information and trends and subsequently present this in an appropriate format to clinicians within practices to promote good prescribing practice
• Provide specialist education to pharmacy colleagues, nursing staff and GPs on aspects of medicines optimisation
• Demonstrate self-development through continuous professional development
• Implement strategies to support antimicrobial stewardship

Practice Targets

• Support practices to deliver on IIF, QIPP agenda, QOF and locally commissioned enhanced services
• To be aware of the prescribing budget and identify and action areas for cost improvement
• Work with PCN team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved

This Job Description is not exhaustive and may change as the post develops, but such change will not take place without consultation between the post holder and his/her manager. There is a need to travel between sites, therefore ability to drive and uses own car is an advantage.

Person Specification

• Qualifications
• Essential: Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm) (or equivalent), Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
• Desirable: Postgraduate diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent, Independent prescriber or working towards, Completed/Enrolled onto the CPPE Primary Care Pathway

• Experience
• Essential: Good all-round clinical knowledge and practical skills, Is able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review medication for patients in core areas, including long term conditions, Demonstrates the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences, Works effectively independently and as part of a team
• Desirable: Experience of working within primary care

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.